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Renminbi pulls back from six-month high
June 2, 2017--Volume in US dollar-offshore renminbi futures on the Hong Kong Exchange topped 8,600 contracts for the second day in a row on Thursday.
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Source: FT.com
Nikkei 225 breaks above 20,000 for first time since 2015
June 2, 2017--Early Friday morning gains have pushed Japan's Nikkei 225 index over the 20,000-point level for the first time since December 2015.
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Source: FT.com
BetaShares: Geographic lending restrictions could provide scope for lower interest ratesscope for lower interest rates
May 31, 2017--Contrary to the hopes of both the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Federal Treasury, economic growth is off to a bad start in 2017 so far.
Importantly, however, the recent Federal Budget included new powers for the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to impose geographic-based lending restrictions. If used, these new restrictions could allow scope for the Reserve Bank to further support the economy through lower interest rates later this year if need be, with less risk of further inflaming the already hot Sydney property market.
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Source: BetaShares
IMF-Thailand: Selected Issues
May 31, 2017--THAILAND: BRINGING INFLATION BACK TO TARGET1
A. Context
1. Thailand's headline inflation was below target in 2015-16. The low headline inflation reflected to a large extent external drivers, in particular the sharp decline in oil prices in recent years.
Yet, core inflation also declined and is projected to remain subdued.
2 The causes of weak inflation dynamics warrant closer investigation.
view the IMF-Thailand: Selected Issues report
Source: IMF
IMF Working Paper-Policy Uncertainty in Japan
May 30, 2017--We develop new economic policy uncertainty (EPU) indices for Japan from January 1987 onwards building on the approach of Baker, Bloom and Davis (2016).
Each index reflects the frequency of newspaper articles that contain certain terms pertaining to the economy, policy matters and uncertainty. Our overall EPU index co-varies positively with implied volatilities for Japanese equities, exchange rates and interest rates and with a survey-based measure of political uncertainty. The EPU index rises around contested national elections and major leadership transitions in Japan, during the Asian Financial Crisis and in reaction to the Lehman Brothers failure, U.S. debt downgrade in 2011, Brexit referendum, and Japan's recent decision to defer a consumption tax hike. Our uncertainty indices for fiscal, monetary, trade and exchange rate policy co-vary positively but also display distinct dynamics. VAR models imply that upward EPU innovations foreshadow deteriorations in Japan's macroeconomic performance, as reflected by impulse response functions for investment, employment and output. Our study adds to evidence that credible policy plans and strong policy frameworks can favorably influence macroeconomic performance by, in part, reducing policy uncertainty.
view the IMF Working Paper-Policy Uncertainty in Japan
Source: IMF
China to shift renminbi market guidance to ward off depreciation
May 26, 2017--China's central bank will change the way it guides the renminbi exchange rate, a move that appears designed to discourage renminbi depreciation at a time when authorities are still concerned about capital flight.
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Source: FT.com
STOXX Opens Hong Kong Office To Further Expand Into The Asia Pacific Market And Appoints New Head For Greater China
May 26, 2017--STOXX Ltd., the operator of Deutsche Boerse Group's index business, and a leading global provider of innovative and tradable index concepts, today announced the expansion of its presence in Asia Pacific with the opening of a new office in Hong Kong.
To drive the company's expansion across key Asian markets, STOXX appointed Jay Lin as Sales Director for Greater China.
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Source: STOXX
FTSE Russell and Bursa Malaysia launch two new indexes
May 26, 2017--New indexes cover mid- and small-cap companies
Broad range of industry sectors covered
Support Malaysian government initiatives to promote mid-cap market segment
FTSE Russell and Bursa Malaysia have launched two new indexes, which will track mid and small-cap companies. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia MidS Cap Index comprises constituents from the FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS Index with a full market capitalisation range of MYR 200 million to MYR 2 billion, subject to buffers applied to provide stability in the selection of constituents at the semi-annual reviews.
Vanguard takes tilt at fast-growing Chinese market
May 25, 2017--Asset manager's Shanghai opening paves way to start selling funds to investors
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Source: FT.com
Moody's downgrades China's debt rating
May 24, 2017--For the first time in more than 25 years, the ratings agency Moody's has downgraded China's debt rating.
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Source: Zawya.com